Museums

Istanbul is home to quite a number of museums, covering subjects such as archeology, modern art and historical artifacts.
Archeological Museum

Inarguably, the Istanbul Archeological Museum stands as one of the most important showcases of archeology. Its collection boasts of more than a million artifacts that cover a lot of ground in the area of world history. Here, you will find the Alexander Sarcophagus, as well as the Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women and some Byzantine emperors.
The Museum actually has three major parts: the Archeological Museum (in the main building), the Tiled Kiosk or the Museum of Islamic Art and the Museum of the Ancient Orient. It sits in what used to be the gardens of the Topkapi Palace. First begun on 1891, its collection grew as members of the empire sent any artifacts they found to Istanbul. The Main building houses the Snake’s heads that were broken off from the Serpentine Column, the Ephebos statue, an astounding collection of Ottoman medals, adornments and coins, a tablet of the Treaty of Kadesh (there are only three!) and pieces of ruins of the temple dedicated to Athena at Assos. The Museum of the Ancient Orient started as a school of Fine Arts, until it was turned into a museum. You will also find an extensive collection of artifacts from the Babylonian, Greek Anatolian, Ancient Egyptian, Pre-Islamic, Sumerian and Assyrian cultures. Meanwhile, showcasing what is one of the finest and oldest specimens of Ottoman civil architecture is the Tiled Kiosk.

This magnificent landmark also is a museum. People used to argue about whose church it was, since it was an old Byzantine church, then turned into a mosque. Now, as a museum, it is open to everyone. Aside from the awe-inspiring dome, you will find a massive collection of Islamic and Christian art and Byzantine mosaics as well.

Ataturk Museum
Get a glimpse of the life and times of one of the respected leaders of Turkey – Ataturk. If this house could talk, you will see the struggles and the triumphs before the War of Independence. Here, you will see pieces of his life – his personal belongings, works of art, even his clothes.

Chora Church Museum
If you still haven’t got your fill of Byzantine frescoes and mosques after your tour of the Hagia Sophia, this is the next place to go. Have a great time poring over the mosaics and spend some time exploring the surroundings – the wooden Ottoman houses are worth the stroll.